Fair and Clear Energy
Coalition. Testifies against the bill, says the public purpose money is not
intended for this kind of expenditure.

TAPE 30, A

040

Bissonnette

Continues presentation and
answers questions from Chair Hill.

075

Brad Higbee

Renewable NorthWest
Project. Said they are excited about the center at OIT, but not the source of
funding since it proposes taking money from public purpose funds meant for
low-income.

185

Debra Kennedy

Assistant Director, Family
Services, Salvation Army. Members of Fair and Clean Energy Coalition and
participated to create HB 1149. Says funding the renewable energy center is
not consistent with the original intent of the bill.

210

Chair Hill

Asks why she does not
think it is appropriate use.

220

Kennedy

Replies the money was
designed to go to weatherization, conservation, renewable, and that an
institution’s funding should come from another resource. Say’s the idea of
the center is good, but with other dollars.

250

Chair Hill

Says he disagrees with her
and that it does not diminish the dollars going to weatherization, etc, because
those are different categories within the public purpose dollars.

270

Rep. Patridge

Says it is consistent and
he does not agree, except that it must go through the Trust.

280

Kennedy

Says she agrees with that.

285

Douglas Still

Oregon Caucus of the NW
Energy Coalition. Testifies against the bill.

350

Rep. Gerard

Asks if he would still
oppose the bill if his organization supported it.

355

Still

Says he supports
development of the center, but not with the Trust funds from SB 1149.

Citizen Utility Board,
(CUB). Opposes HB 3209 and the use of public purpose funds to support the OIT
renewable energy center.

TAPE 29, B

050

Rep. Gerard

Asks clarifying questions
regarding CUB intent.

060

Eisdorfer

Says that is not what he
said, but that 1149 money is for on the ground projects. Says he supports
research and development, but that funding it is not the intent of 1149.

095

Rep. Lowe

Asks clarifying question.

100

Eisdorfer

Maintains his position
about using the public purpose money.

200

Ron Eachus

Public Utility Commission.
Speaks to funding streams within the 1149 and the funding distribution.

215

Rep. Patridge

Says he did not support
1149, he feels no affinity for the funding distribution, and will vote for HB
3209.

250

Ron Eachus

Says he is here to answer
questions. Says the PUC does not think the bill is appropriate. Adds they
thought the main purpose of the bill is different than the HB 3209 presents.
Says the PUC want s to keep as much of the integrity as possible. Their other
concern is that is only applies to a portion of the ratepayers in the state,
and in 1/3 of the state the ratepayers are not contributing to this fund.

300

Rep. Patridge

Asks for clarification as
to implementation schedule, who will be on the Trust and what its purpose is.

310

Eachus

Details the implementation
process and distribution factors.

TAPE 30, B

040

Eachus

Continues presentation.

080

Rep. Patridge

Says he feels there is
conflicting information about the distribution of trust funds and that is
even more confusing.

110

Eachus

Responds and further clarifies
the funding issue. Says the PUC is ultimately responsible, even thought they
will send the money to a nonprofit board, and the board will make the
operational decisions.

135

Chair Hill

Asks the timeline for
setting up the board and when it becomes operational.

140

Eachus

Responds and defers to
another staff member for exact date.

175

Martha Anne Dow

President, OIT. Clarifies
the proposed role of OIT Renewable Energy Center. Says the intent is
technical assistance and information dissemination.

197

Rep. Lowe

Asks if there are
restrictions in the proposed budget related to administrative costs.

200

Eachus

Says no, the legislation
does not specify any set amount for administrative costs.

275

Chair Hill

Expresses appreciation for
Mr. Eachus’s presence at the committee meeting.

300

Chair Hill

Closes the public hearing
on HB 3209 and adjourns the meeting at 5:10 p.m.